Rio Rancho building department

The City of Rio Rancho Building Inspection Division, part of Development Services, issues building permits and inspects all construction under the city’s jurisdiction. It also follows up on complaints from residents and from the state Construction Industries Division (CID). Work inside Rio Rancho city limits goes through the city, not Sandoval County. Every contractor working in the city needs a New Mexico license and an active Rio Rancho business license. Business licenses are handled by the City Clerk.

What needs a permit

The city quotes the state rule, 14.5.2.8 NMAC. A permit is required whenever a building or structure is erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work also needs a permit first. The city adds that every re-roof needs a building permit and inspections before work starts, and a faxed application doesn’t count as a permit.

The city’s forms page has separate permits and packets for:

• New homes, additions and remodels, and garages
• Swimming pools and manufactured homes
• Retaining walls
• Accessory structures, split at 120 sq ft and under or 121 sq ft and over

Fences, small sheds, retaining walls, and re-roofs

Fences, sheds of 120 sq ft or less, retaining walls, and re-roofs share one application. Submit it with:

• A site plan showing setbacks from the property lines
• A permission letter from the adjoining owner
• The height of the structure

Re-roof, window, door, and stucco permits also need a copy of the contractor’s bid. Retaining walls need engineer-stamped plans. Fence height limits from the form:

Location	Maximum fence height
Front setback area	4 feet
Rest of the yard	6 feet
Corner lots	Engineer approval required for the clear-sight triangle

A shed of 120 sq ft or less needs two sets of drawings and forms and a $10 fee. The city says these permits are usually approved while you wait. See also do I need a permit for a shed.

Applying and paying

Submit applications and plans through Click2Gov or by email to [email protected]. Large plan sets can be sent through a Dropbox account. The city tells you what to pay at each step:

1. Pay the plan review fee, then tell the Building Division you’ve paid.
2. The division reviews the plans and emails you corrections or an approval.
3. After approval, pay the permit fee and the permit is issued.

You can pay online in Click2Gov. A new home submittal must include:

• Site, foundation, framing, roofing, and floor plans
• Engineered truss details and shear-wall bracing
• Manual J and Manual D calculations and a thermal-envelope report (REScheck or similar)
• Septic and well permits, where they apply
• An engineered grading and drainage plan, where required

A homeowner who applies for their own permit also files a notarized responsibility checklist and the state Homeowner Responsibility form. New commercial projects and businesses should check the Fire Marshal’s requirements before applying. Before a solar permit can be submitted, the applicant needs PNM’s Notice of Complete and Notice of Technical Screening Review.

Fees on the forms page

Item	Fee
Building plan review	65% of the building permit fee
Fencing plan review	$10
Electrical construction exam	$40
Plumbing construction exam	$40
Reinspection	$33

The city warns that building permit fees don’t cover utility application, deposit, or connection fees for new construction.

Inspections and certificate of occupancy

Once you have an approved permit and a PIN, request inspections in Click2Gov, by email to [email protected], or by leaving a message at (505) 891-5006. The permittee must post a notice sheet at the job site for inspectors to sign off on. The approved plans must also be on site.

The building inspections are:

• Foundation: after footings are excavated and rebar is in place. For a mono pour, plumbing and electrical rough-ins must also be approved before the pour.
• Frame: after the roof, framing, fire blocking, and trade rough-ins are in place and approved.
• Final: after the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing finals pass.

You may be charged a reinspection fee in any of these cases:

• The work isn’t ready.
• Corrections weren’t made.
• The inspector can’t get access.
• The notice sheet or approved plans are missing.
• The work departs from the approved plans.

After the final passes, the inspector brings the notice sheet back to the office. A certificate of occupancy is normally ready within 24 hours.

Codes and design criteria

The city uses the following codes:

• 2021 International Building, Residential, Energy Conservation, and Fire codes
• 2021 Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical codes
• 2020 National Electrical Code
• 2012 Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code

Local design values:

• Wind speed: 115 mph ultimate (93 mph nominal)
• Seismic design category: C
• Ground snow load and minimum flat-roof snow load: 20 lb
• Frost depth: 18 inches
• Termite protection: required

Zoning

The Planning and Zoning Division reviews residential and commercial plans against the zoning rules. It also approves sign, special use, and home occupation permits, and it processes zone map amendments, variances, and conditional uses. Its VisionView GIS map helps with site plans and addresses.